The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-02-13
[speelal correspOndenoe Of the oITIzEN ]
RALEIGH, N. C, Feb. 10. 1851

Especial Correspondence Of the CITIzEN
RALEIGH, N. C, Feb. 10. 1851
The general opinion of this Legislature
is that it is body which will not dis
tinguish itself by doing any great things.
It will pass the revenue bill, establish on
Agricultural and Mechanical College,
remodel or rather reduce the expense oi
the Department of Agriculture, pass some
fbiIls incorporating railway companies
land will then go home. The DeDocratio
Senate promptly neutializes any impr
Jper things the Republican-In Independent
House does, SO that harmful legislation is
mot to be feared. It is good that there Is
such check upon the House. DR.. York
would like, and no doubt expected, to
ride rough-shod over every Democrat in
the State. But there are smarter men in
the Legislature than DIR. York, even if
he does have all the radicals in the State
here to give him advice and confer with
him. The radicals bad laid their plans
nicely for this session; every thing by
rule and regulation, but when once things
began to go wrong with them, there was
a wreck all along the line.
| NJ A1SphOAN
They do not like their new allies, the
independents, and Williamson, negro,
who is always free in his speech, said
they would like 10 drop the Independents.
The latter have no great opinion of
themselves, if one may judge by what
Lindsey, one of their leaders, says. He
calls the independents "the uncertain
element" The democrats do not affili-
ate with the Independents much, and the
latter, poor devils, are inan embarrassing
position. Speaker Webster is clever
man, and so are Pearson and Lindsey.
SCENES IN THE SENATE.
The Senate Chamber is always dignifed.
It is ''sir" and "If you please" all day
long. The President of Che Senate, one
of the best-dressed and best-mannered
men in the State, is like Mr.. Turvey- drop,
"a model of department" He is hand
some and he knows it. He always casts
his eyes at the ladies' gallery and always
rises in his chair when he speaks. His
close-buttoned coat displays his fine
figure, and his smile at the ladies is
something really worth seeing. The
ladies all say "Gov. Stedman is perfectly
charming" The Senators are as rule,
fine looking men. The most ANTIQUE
specimen of them all is Terrell, of Wake.
l He is an absolute non-entlty, a mere
lpuppet, voiceless and powerless. There
are two colored Senators, Taylor and
Epps.. The former was bora in the West
Indies and his language is very curious.
It is discordent; all flats and sharps. lie
is polite, though very vain negro.
Epps is very polite and dignifed. The
two members from the far East and West,
Shaw and Elias, sit near together. The
two represent more than dozen and q
half ofeeunties. Mr.. Elias is greatly
esteemed and is an earnest worker. The
Senate thus far has heard the titles OF
not quite 375 bills and resolutions read.
1t has passed fair proportion of these
and has passed some bills " hicf origina-
ted in the House. The Senate is body
which, as young belle neatlysput it the
other day, is stylish, but not interest
ing" Itwould never do to pass by the
Senate, however, without mentioning
the veteran principal clerk, Mr.. R. M.
Furman-universal1y known as "Bob''
Furman. He is popular, of course, and
enjoys the distinction ofbeing, like Lieut.
Gov. Stedman, "Iadies man" Like the
latter, he is "a grand stand player" and
keeps an eye On the gallery.
SCENES IN THE HOUSE.
In all things the House is the reverse
of the Senate. Never was this more
marked than at the present session.
) There is always noise, always something
going on to cause ripple of excitement.
1T is the unexpected which always hap
pene," said witty Frenchman, and the
remark applies to the House, for no one
, knows what may turn up there. Speaker
Webster, very horid as to face, and very
decidedly funny to manner, is irrepressi-
; BILE. He makes all kinds Of 51nny re.
marks. AS colored member remarked
de speaker is liable to do anything" One
example. A far western member could
not hear very well and said "Ir. Speak
er, please let the clerk raise his voice.
The Speaker said: "Mr. Burkhead now
bellows like the Bull of Bashan, and /
suggest, if the gentleman cannot hear.
that he move hi3 chair right in front OF
the clerk, SO as to catch the drippings
from the sanctuary" The hall is always
; noisy and there are, on an average, four
threats each day to "clear the lobbies.p
Mr.. Speake, rises and says The chair is
very glad and is sure the House is very
glad to have our friends here in the gal
leries and lobbies. but unless there is
better order it must order both cleared
Endurance has ceased to be a virtue
The ladies we are always glad to see.
Each one talks and each one makes very
little noise, but the aggregate v1lume OF
sound is something terrific After these
outbursts of the Speaker the House il
very still-for three minutes.
THE RAILWAY COMMISSION BILL.
| The railway people conquered to day
and fairly whipped the people who wish
ed to pass the bill to. create a railway
commission. The debate on this bill has
throughout been markedly display o
: temper. Though some members avowed
that it involved no question of party, yei
in large degree it has been party mat
ter. The lobby was bitterly denounced
in fact the denunciation was the mos
bitter your correspondent has ever heafG
: In the House. This harsh speaking
! was done by Ewart and Leazer
+ both advocates of the bill. The people
on the other side alleged that the com
8 mittee had given the railways no hear
!. ing at all; had quite crowded them out
in fact, so it was "a toss. up, after all
and sthonors easy." To-day the matte
!. was, once for all this session, settled, tn,
house voting, so to 48, TO indefnitel,
postpone it. There was great jol
among the railway people, who wer
present in great force.
=, THE COUNTY GovERNMExT BILL.
d You have been ADVISED by wire as i
g the result of the long fight over the bi
IS to abolish the present system of count
/, oovnrnment. The republlcaI1a (lneil